Abstract: This patent is basically an Engineering design of a means to vary the length of a rod of two parts that are coupled together by an electrically operated motorized turnbuckle which can be activated remotely when it is difficult or impossible to access directly. This is accomplished by holding a wand that induces positive or negative pulses to the electrically operated motorized turnbuckle according to the direction of rotation desired for the electrically operated motorized turnbuckle to turn.

Abstract: A turnbuckle assembly (20) for a vehicle steering linkage (10) includes a sleeve (50), a nut (52) and a threaded rod (30). The sleeve (50) has a plurality of circumferentially spaced knobs (80) located on its outer surface (78). The nut (52) has a base portion (84) and a skirt portion (86). The base portion (84) of the nut (52) has an internal thread (90), and is received on the threaded rod (30). The skirt portion (86) of the nut (52) has an internal groove (98), and extends over the end portion (60) of the sleeve (50). The nut (52) is movable from a starting position to a clamping position. When the nut (52) is in its starting position, the knobs (80) on the sleeve (50) are received in the groove (98) in the nut (52). The knobs (80) and the groove (98) then establish a releasable mechanical interlock holding the nut (52) in its starting position.

Abstract: A door drive of a up and over door, sectional side or sectional ceiling door or sliding door, especially of a garage door, comprises at least one cylindrical guide tube supported against a ceiling or side wall, has a slide carriage arranged for movement along the guide tube, an endless traction element and a drive for opening and closing the door. The carriage is connectable with the door panel via a connecting rod. The ends of the traction element are secured together by means of a turnbuckle. For better support of the guide tube and for sampler connection or coupling of the traction element with the slide carriage, a number of mounting brackets are secured to the upper side of each guide tube for receiving support struts for mounting in the guide tube to the garage ceiling or wall. The slide carriage slides with a tubular portion along the guide tube. It has a continuous longitudinal slit on its upper side so that it can pass the brackets.

Abstract: An adjustable length prosthetic implant includes a stem having a threaded portion and an end portion adapted for mounting with a bone. A barrel includes an end portion adapted for mounting with a bone and a sleeve portion extending therefrom and including an elongated chamber defining an axial dimension. The sleeve portion overlies at least a portion of the threaded portion of the stem. A connecting mechanism is mounted on the barrel for interconnecting the barrel and stem and for controlling the axial extension and retraction of the stem from the barrel.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a machine such as a surface mining "shovel" having an arm, a bucket-like digging dipper and a brace. The latter is used to maintain a selected "rake angle" between the arm and the dipper. The brace has first and second end lugs and extends between the arm and the dipper. The improvement comprises a tube-like collar interposed between and connecting the lugs. At least the first end lug is positionally adjustable with respect to the collar so that the "rake angle" between the arm and the dipper may be readily selected. In a highly preferred embodiment, each end lug is threaded to an opposite end of the collar and better "vernier" adjustment of the rake angle results.

Abstract: Main rotor pitch control rod assemblies on helicopters constitute means for ranslating an aviator's control impulses in the cockpit to the main rotor blades. Pitch control rod assemblies typically include means for locking the assembly into a predetermined attitude setting. The setting may be held by locking nuts. This invention provides a passive locking means using spring tension to maintain the desired setting if the locking nuts loosen due to stress loads or improper torquing during maintenance. The invention also provides passive means for maintaining expansive stress within the control rod to prevent distortion of the assembly under compressive loads.

Abstract: Axial slots are provided within threaded ends of connection rods which are oppositely threaded into axially aligned tapped bores within longitudinally spaced end walls of an elongated hollow frame turnbuckle body. Elongated lock plates are pivotally mounted, respectively, at one end thereof to the connecting rod, within the axial slots. The lock plates have limited rotation between a first axially aligned position with the axis of the connection rods and a second position at some angle thereto. In the second position the end of the lock plates project radially outwardly of the connection rod slots into contact with a side wall of the elongated hollow turnbuckle body to prevent rotation of the turnbuckle body relative to the connection rods.

Abstract: A length-adjustable upper steering arm for a three-point coupling device, including a connecting eye having a threaded shank, and a coupling hook having a threaded shank, both of which are received in threaded bores of a sleeve, and which threads extend in opposite directions. To achieve a locked position or disengaged position of the coupling hook relative to the sleeve, there are provided an actuating lever and a locking ratchet which is partially pivotable independently thereof. Because the spring-loaded locking ratchet may be pivoted from the disengaged position into the engaged position independently of the actuating lever, the thread is not subject to jamming forces.

Abstract: A lifting strut having an adjusting sleeve with an externally threaded portion and an internally threaded portion. A connecting end with a threaded journal is screwed into the internally threaded portion, with a connecting end with a threaded sleeve being screwed on to the externally threaded portion. In addition, there is provided a movable holding sleeve having grooves and stops. The holding sleeve may be moved into any position relative to a rotary cross member of the adjusting sleeve provided with teeth for the purpose of changing the length of the lifting strut. Furthermore, the holding sleeve, with its grooves, may be moved across the teeth of the rotary cross member and across the teeth provided at the threaded sleeve in a corresponding position in order to arrest the change in length.

Abstract: A turnbuckle assembly for an automotive steering system tie-rod connection applies both radial and axial forces against the engaged threads to resist relaxation of tightening between the threads and to prevent spreading of the seam of a rolled stamped sleeve. Complimentary conical surfaces of a nut and the sleeve apply a compressive force as the nut is advanced axially onto the sleeve.

Abstract: A locking bar for blocking relative movement of movable parts of a device, particularly providing anti-theft nature to devices such as wheelchairs which would probably be manipulated to a collapsed condition as an incident to a theft of the device; and anti-theft nature is especially provided by the locking bar made to appear to be merely a non-removable axle, yet made shortenable for removal, and thus chair-collapsability by authorized personnel, by an internal sliding operativity which is concealed but which achieves length-changing be engagement of screw-threaded parts to permit manual torque-application to movable parts to achieve the length-changing, the sliding member being a socket whose sliding into or from its length-changed position is effected merely by tilting to achieve positioning by gravity.

Abstract: Truck rails for pickup trucks and the like include the use of swivel connectors which permit the rails to be attached concurrently to the truck sides, headache rack, and tool box.

Abstract: A multi-arm tractor hitch with an improved adjustable arm having a pair of threaded end members with slots therealong, a middle member engaged with the end members in turnbuckle fashion, a locking member movably, preferably pivotably, attached to the middle member and having tabs positioned to engage the slots of both ends members when the locking member is in a lock position, to firmly lock them and the middle against relative rotation without any connection beyond the middle member.

Abstract: An adjuster for joining a ball stud assembly to the linkage bar of an automotive steering linkage comprises a threaded fastener attached to the ball stud assembly, a threaded portion extending axially from the linkage bar, and a tubular sleeve having internal threads which are threadedly engaged with the threaded fastener attached to the ball stud assembly and to the threaded portion extending from the linkage bar. First and second nonrotatable clamps are disposed about the tubular sleeve in the vicinity of each threaded portion and function to lock the tubular sleeve against rotation. The nonrotatable clamps may be placed upon the ball stud assembly and linkage bar in only one rotational orientation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for non-impact, single-pass printing in which the toner exhibits a selective or "tuned" response to an agent having a preselected characteristic, such as light energy of a particular frequency emitted by a laser, to impart an image to a printing surface or substrate.

Abstract: A turnbuckle is formed with a sleeve having a first fixing member threaded into one end and a second fixing member rotatably received in the other end of the sleeve. The second fixing member is formed by a shank and a screw threaded into the end of the shank and fixed in place by a transverse pin. The head of the screw is trapped internally of the sleeve against an internal shoulder. The structure of the second fixing member allows the turnbuckle to be readily dismantled and portions thereof replaced.

Abstract: A scaffold connector assembly for connecting upright members to cross members to form a scaffolding structure. The scaffold connector assembly is adapted to connect upright members with cross members so as to form both orthorhombic and monoclinic substructures. The scaffold connector assembly is further adapted to interconnect both the orthorhombic and monoclinic substructures so as to form closed polygon scaffolding structures.

Abstract: A stem nut for driving a valve stem is coaxially rotatable within a drive collar which is offset from the axis of a nutating drive motor. The drive motor and the drive shaft are coupled together for rotation by means of readily interchangeable sprockets driven by a roller chain. The coaxial stem nut and the drive collar are releasably locked together by removable pins. When the pins are removed, the stem nut permits the valve stem to be directly operated with a wrench or the like. The stem nut is readily removable from the offset drive assembly by releasing a snap ring.

Abstract: An adjustable tensioning device for stays, rigging, guides and the like, includes an anti-separation member intermediate two adjusting members which are threadably engaged with two threaded members which are themselves threadably engaged with the anti-separation member on opposite sides thereof. A moveable member is associated with each adjusting member and moves correspondingly because of its location between the adjusting member and a restricting member. Each moveable member is connected to an associated attachment receiving element by a number of connecting members moveably engaged with the anti-separation member such that the anti-separation member is intermediate the adjusting member and the attachment receiving element. The anti-separation member may incorporate a yieldable compensator such as a spring or hydraulic cylinder in which case the anti-separation member. In either event a locking device may be included to hold a desired tension adjustment.

Abstract: A stem nut for driving a valve stem is coaxially rotatable within a drive collar which is offset from the axis of a nutating drive motor. The drive motor and the drive shaft are coupled together for rotation by means of readily interchangeable sprockets driven by a roller chain. The coaxial stem nut and the drive collar are releasably locked together by removable pins. When the pins are removed, the stem nut permits the valve stem to be directly operated with a wrench or the like. The stem nut is readily removable from the offset drive assembly by releasing a snap ring.

Abstract: A pin lock for a turnbuckle of an ajdustable link on a three-point hitch. The pin locks the threads of the turnbuckle and is retained in the locking position by a retainer ring.

Abstract: A lock device (30) is provided to securely attach with an elongate member (16). The locking device (30) includes a pair of parts (32, 34) with openings for receiving the elongate member (16). One of the parts (32) is prevented from rotating on the elongate member (16) and the other part 34 forms teeth (48) which are capable of engaging teeth (40) on the elongate member (16) to prevent axial movement of the pair of parts (32, 34) on the elongate member (16).

Abstract: A float for loading hoses composed of a pair of semi-annular hard floating bodies hinged at one end portion thereof and provided at the other end portions with opposed rectangular notches, a female screw threaded member and hook-shaped member snugly fitted in said notches, respectively, and engaged with pins, respectively, extending through the members, and a bolt having oppositely inclined screw threads at its front and rear end portions and threadedly engaged with said female screw threaded member and hook-shaped member, respectively, whereby when the bolt is fastened so as to fit the float around the loading hose the front and rear end portions of the bolt make contact with the pins extending through the female screw threaded member and hook-shaped member, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to an anchoring arrangement which includes a lock clip fitting about the anchor arrangement and being in longitudinally slidable relative thereto. The lock clip includes a lock tab extending from a portion of the periphery thereof in a direction generally parallel to the anchoring arrangement. A tab retainer is defined by a relatively stationary support member for preventing the lock tab from rotating.

Abstract: A pair of side-by-side oppositely facing and threaded eyebolts are provided and threaded in parallel side-by-side bores in a common nut structure to define a turnbuckle. One of the eye portions of the eyebolt is open defining an open throat hook with which a closed ring-type anchor member may be releasably engaged and a sleeve is mounted on the shank of the same eyebolt between the nut and the open eyebolt throat and is shiftable along the eyebolt shank into and out of position closing the throat for releasably locking an associated closed ring-type anchor member within the hook. The sleeve is engageable by the common nut structure for displacing the sleeve toward its throat closing position and the common nut structure additionally includes friction structure for adjustably frictionally resisting rotation of the shank portions of the eyebolts relative to the nut structure.

Abstract: The limited motion rotational joint employs two rotational members positioned as to be in frictional and rotatable engagement with each other around a common axis and in parallel spaced planes. The outer sections of the members are spaced apart, by the use of spacers, and a frictional foam is wrapped around the spacers while fitting between the outer sections. A compression unit is then used for circumferential application around the frictional foam to provide regulation of the frictional force applied to the rotational members.

Abstract: An adjustable lift link on a three-point hitch having a self-locking handle and retainer for selectively adjusting and holding the adjustment of the lift link. A stop on the link selectively provides the float or fixed length positions of the link of the three-point hitch.

Abstract: A safety lock take-up turnbuckle device with a simple and inexpensive adjusting and locking mechanism which forms part of the device. The adjusting and locking mechanism prevents slipping of the turnbuckle and also theft of a load secured by the turnbuckle.

Abstract: A unitary lockable turnbuckle constructed from an elongated member, which is partially slit at two axially spaced-apart locations so as to form an interconnected barrel with a nut at each end. A thread is formed in each nut and the adjacent portion of the barrel, the thread at one end being of opposite hand from the thread at the other end. The slits leave reduced shear sections which break when the nuts are sufficiently torqued in opposition to the barrel. Preferably the width of the slit is reduced substantially to zero before the thread is formed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for spreading distributable material, more particularly, fertilizer in granular or powdery form, said device comprising a hopper having at least one outlet port and a spreading member connected herewith and a dosing member to be adjusted for defining the passage of each outlet port, a control-mechanism moving the dosing member into a position in which the outlet port is closed or into the adjusted position; the invention has for its object to spread said material accurately and provides screw means operative between the dosing member and the control-mechanism for very sensitive adjustment said dosing member.

Abstract: A metallic rod end is fixedly secured to a relatively softer metallic tube by providing imprinted screw threads on the rod free end. Then grooves are imprinted in the screw threads and to a depth not greater than that of the minor diameter of the screw threads and with the grooves extending axially of the rod end. The tube is provided with a threaded bore mating the screw threads on the rod end. The threads in the threaded bore are provided by imprinting and the entrance portion thereto has a diameter substantially equal to the major diameter of the screw threads. After threading the rod into the tube until the grooves are aligned with the entrance portion, then the tube is swaged causing flow of metal from the tube to the rod end and into the grooves therein. This first rod end may be provided with an internally threaded bore so as to function as an insert between the metallic tube and a second externally threaded rod end.

Abstract: A one-piece tie rod adjuster comprises a cylindrical sleeve internally threaded as a turnbuckle to engage with corresponding threads of inner and outer tie rods and rotatable to adjust the overall length of the assembled linkage. The sleeve is provided with laterally spaced and circumferential beads which can be constricted and compressed after the linkage adjustment. As a result of bead compression the sleeve elongates and takes a permanent set to preload the threaded connection to secure the threaded assembly in adjusted position.

Abstract: Disclosed is a device for adjusting the length of a rod, which comprises in combination a cylindrical body provided with an internally embedded nut for allowing the external male screw formed on the peripheral surface of a rod to be driven therethrough and adapted to be freely moved in the direction of the length of the rod by the rotation thereof around its axis, a pair of freely swingable pawls disposed in an opposed relationship and extended via constrictions serving as hinges therefor from the upper edge of the cavity of said cylindrical body, an annular operating member encircling the upper edge of the cavity of said cylindrical body and having the outer ends of said pawls connected thereto, whereby a vertical movement imparted to said annular operating member causes the inner free ends of said pawls to plunge into or emerge from said cavity and consequently come into or out of engagement with a flattened portion formed above said male screw on said rod and enable the movement of said cylindrical body to

Abstract: A positive locking turnbuckle has a generally cylindrical barrel with an internally threaded bore at each axial end in which terminal members are threadably received. Rotation of the barrel relative to the terminal members permits the overall length of the buckle and any attaching objects to be adjusted in conventional fashion. The barrel has a slot extending longitudinally between the ends and penetrating through the wall of the barrel into the respective bores. Each terminal member has a transverse channel or crosshole which can be rotated into a position registering with the slot in the barrel. Two coil springs are resiliently mounted on the outer surface of the barrel and each spring has a tang which projects through the slot of the barrel into the channel of a respective terminal member to prevent relative rotation of the barrel and terminal members and, thus, lock the turnbuckle in a selected adjustment condition.

Abstract: An adjustable anchor employed within a triple-lift fork mast unit of a type wherein opposing ends of two lift chains are adjustably secured to a common base structure such as an intermediate upright unit, the anchor including a housing attached to the intermediate upright unit and defining a bore with a spherical taper formed about one end of the bore, an adjusting sleeve arranged within the bore and having a spherical shoulder for bearing engagement with the spherical taper, a portion of the sleeve being knurled to facilitate its rotation within the bore for adjusting its threaded engagement with a connector secured to one of the lift chains, the other chain also being adjustably secured to the housing.

Abstract: The adjuster tube, threaded at opposite ends to an outer tie rod and an inner tie rod in a steering linkage, is provided at one end with anti-rotational means on the exterior thereof including a radial inward extending aperture means and the tie rod at this end has longitudinally extending splined grooves formed on a portion of the threaded end thereof engaged with the adjuster tube. The adjuster retainer is provided with protruding tabs at one end thereof to engage the splines in the tie rod, and is provided at its other end with means to engage the anti-rotational means of the adjuster tube.

Abstract: An adjustable tie rod assembly for a motor vehicle steering linkage according to the present invention includes a tie rod having a threaded end, a ball joint with a split tubular attachment portion and a tubular intermediate member. The tubular portion of the joint has an internal thread. The intermediate member has both inner and outer threads. The threaded end of the tie rod, the intermediate member and the tubular portion of the joint are arranged in concentric fashion. The internal and external threads of the intermediate member are of right-hand and left-hand pitch whereby the intermediate member may be rotated to adjust the length of the assembly. Clamping means is provided for securing the three components in tight engagement.